Late payments caused Ocala Grille to leave courthouse

Sonya Cobb picks out a wrap sandwich at Ocala Grille on the first floor of the Marion County Judicial Complex in this July 6, 2012 file photo. The eatery has closed.

Doug Engle/ Ocala Star-Banner

By Vishal PersaudStaff writer

Published: Monday, December 10, 2012 at 1:47 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, December 10, 2012 at 1:47 p.m.

Ocala Grille, which opened a small cafe inside the Marion County Judicial Center earlier this year, has closed its doors because of late electric and commission payments to the county.

The owners of the cafe had been late with payments for several months and were notified to either pay their October expenses or move out and have those costs waived, said Carrie Hyde, a procurement and contract analyst for the County Commission.

“So this was the last straw,” Hyde said.

The office sent the owners a letter on Nov. 1 warning them of the pending October payment due on Nov. 10. The letter said that if Ocala Grille moved out of the courthouse by 3 p.m. Nov. 2, the fees would be waived.

The establishment officially vacated the courthouse sometime in mid-November. An official date could not be determined by the county’s facilities management team.

Ocala Grille is the third eatery to try establishing itself within the courthouse. In March 2011, a Spanish food establishment, La Familia, tried and failed.

And in 2010, the Sovereign Bakery and Eatery’s contract with the county was also terminated because of late payments.

Hyde said the establishment was also cited for non-attendance and left the courthouse.

Clerk of the Circuit Court David Ellspermann approached the county’s procurement services to solicit requests for proposals last year, Hyde said. Ocala Grille was the sole bidder and won the contract to begin in January.

The small cafe had a steady stream of customers trickling in to buy a hot cup of coffee or many of the pre-made hot and cold sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, assorted snacks and other drinks.

It served as a boon for people coming to the courthouse for jury duty or for attorneys and other employees who weren’t able to leave for a quick bite to eat at one of the downtown Ocala restaurants.

Now, without a food establishment, the courthouse has a void.

“I think it’s a benefit to have something here,” Ellspermann said.

But there aren’t any plans for a new vendor, Hyde said.

She said the county’s procurement services needs a nod of approval from Ellspermann to go ahead and start requesting proposals for a new vendor.

<p>Ocala Grille, which opened a small cafe inside the Marion County Judicial Center earlier this year, has closed its doors because of late electric and commission payments to the county.</p><p>The owners of the cafe had been late with payments for several months and were notified to either pay their October expenses or move out and have those costs waived, said Carrie Hyde, a procurement and contract analyst for the County Commission.</p><p>“So this was the last straw,” Hyde said.</p><p>The office sent the owners a letter on Nov. 1 warning them of the pending October payment due on Nov. 10. The letter said that if Ocala Grille moved out of the courthouse by 3 p.m. Nov. 2, the fees would be waived.</p><p>The establishment officially vacated the courthouse sometime in mid-November. An official date could not be determined by the county's facilities management team.</p><p>Ocala Grille is the third eatery to try establishing itself within the courthouse. In March 2011, a Spanish food establishment, La Familia, tried and failed.</p><p>And in 2010, the Sovereign Bakery and Eatery's contract with the county was also terminated because of late payments.</p><p>Hyde said the establishment was also cited for non-attendance and left the courthouse.</p><p>Clerk of the Circuit Court David Ellspermann approached the county's procurement services to solicit requests for proposals last year, Hyde said. Ocala Grille was the sole bidder and won the contract to begin in January.</p><p>The small cafe had a steady stream of customers trickling in to buy a hot cup of coffee or many of the pre-made hot and cold sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, assorted snacks and other drinks.</p><p>It served as a boon for people coming to the courthouse for jury duty or for attorneys and other employees who weren't able to leave for a quick bite to eat at one of the downtown Ocala restaurants.</p><p>Now, without a food establishment, the courthouse has a void.</p><p>“I think it's a benefit to have something here,” Ellspermann said.</p><p>But there aren't any plans for a new vendor, Hyde said.</p><p>She said the county's procurement services needs a nod of approval from Ellspermann to go ahead and start requesting proposals for a new vendor.</p>